Feeding mechanism



1950 c. F. M. HAYES 2,495,522

FEEYIDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 9, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR CHAPLfJ [Pip/9W6 MARCH/J/VTI /AYIJ ATTORNEY v 24, 1950 c. F. M. HAYES 2,495,522

FEEDING MECHANISM Filed. Nov. 9, 1944 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR G/ARLf FQEDfP/C MARCH/1N7 H/JXFJ ATTORNEY Jan. 24, 1950 c. F. M. HAYES FEEDING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 9, 1944 INVENTOR 04/11?! H FAfD'R/C mARMA/VT //A 7617 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 24, 1950 UNITED STATE S PATENT OFFICE FEEDING MECHANISM Charles Frederic Marchant Hayes, Wandsworth, London, England, assignor to The Mullard Radio Valve Company Limited, London, England, a British company Application November 9, 1944, Serial No. 562,651

- In Great Britain March 2, 1943 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires March 2, 1963 Claims. (01. 162) for example, in the manufacture of electric dis- I charge tubes it may be necessary to mould a base with a plurality of metal pins embedded therein and projecting on either'sideso as to constitute lead-in or support members; for this purpose-it is advantageous to have the requisite number of pins-fed from a hopper or reservoir for insertion in the mould. These pins are usually in -the form of straight wires of circular cross-section with tapered ends.

Accordingly, one of the objects of my invention is to provide means for simultaneously obtainingtowards its lower part as best seen from Fig. 4. In the lower part of the hopper is disposed a cyl inder 2, ,the axis of which is at right angles to the parallel front and rear walls of the hopper. The pins are arranged in the hopper with their axes parallel to the axis of the cylinder and the space between the curved surface of the cylinder andthe adjacent boundary of the hopper is large in comparison with the diameter of the pins. The hopper is maintained charged with pins to above the level of the top of the cylinder 2 so that the latter is constantly immersed in the pins. For

' this purpose, the hopper I may be provided with the members of a predetermined group of rod- 1 ing members of a predetermined group of rodlike bodies during their simultaneous transfer along parallel channels in an approximately cylindrical member to a transfer member.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for individually and suctionally holding a predetermined number of rod-like members of a group during the simultaneous transfer of said members from a discharge device to a transfer mechanism by means of individual pusher fingers.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of -one embodiment of a pin-feeding mechanism according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan view,

Fig. 3 is a detail view Showing a longitudinal section through the pin cylinder,

Fig. 4 is an end view of Fig. 3, but with the pin hopper superimposed,

Fig. 5 is an exploded detail view of the vacuum and pressure control valve in one end position,

and

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 5 in the other end position. Figure 7 is a side view in partial sectional elevation of an enlargement of the slotted cylinder of Figure 4 and the operatively associated pusher members of Figure 1 taken alongthe line 1-1 of Figure 4 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. The pinswhichare-to be separated .and fed are contained in a hopper I, This hopper tapers an extension [1 which can be fitted to the top of the main hopper. A slide shutter l8 received in a guide serves to close the bottom of the extension hopper I! so that the latter can be placed in position while filled with pins and thereafter the shutter withdrawn to allow the pins to enter the main hop-per I. In Fig. 4 the slide shutter is shown partially withdrawn. A fresh hopper extension already filled with pins can be substituted as soon as that in position has become empty. To facilitate control of the substitution ofhopper extensions, they are preferably provided with a transparent window which may constitute one entire face of the hopper, so that the level of the pins can readily be observed. To en able a. predetermined number of pins to be taken from the hopper, the cylinder is provided with a corresponding number of channels 3 extending lengthwise of the curved surface. These channels are of a width slightly in excess of the die ameter of the pins and of a depth equal to or slightly in excess of the diameter. The cylinder 2 is rigidly mounted at one end of a hollow shaft 5 and bores 4 are provided with extend between the base of each channel and the interior of the pipe 5. To pick up single pins in the separate channels 3 the cylinder 2 is rotated or rocked about its axis and simultaneously suction is applied by way of the pipe 5 and the bores 4. After the channels 3 have thereby been loaded with pins, the pins are ejected by pusher members 5| which lie in the channels 3, but which during the pin pick-up are retracted. out of the hopper I. On advancing the plungers 5|, the individual pins 59 lying in the channels 3 are caused to slide lengthwise of the channelsand thus are removed from the hopper I. Preferably the arrangement issuch that in the mostadvanced position of the plungers 51, the ends of thelpins still remainin the channels 3, and are still. suctionally engaged by. the outermost bore l in each-channel 3..The pusher members 5| are secured. to a block 6 which is slidable on the pipe 5, but is held against rotation thereon by means of the key 1. To create the axial movement of the pushers, as well as the rotary movement of the cylinder 2, an operatin lever 9 is provided from which the drive is transmitted by way of a pin 33 engaging in a slot H3 in the lever 9. This pin also engages in a curved slot 8 in the block 6. As Will be more fully described hereinafter, the pin 33 is mounted so as to be capable of movement only in the axial direction of the pipe 5. Consequentlvsmovement of the operating lever 9 imparts axial movement to the pin 33 which, by engagement in the slot 8, imparts rotary movement to the block 6. This rotary movement is shared by the pipe 5, the cylinder 2 and the pusher members 5! To facilitate the further handling of the ,pins fed from the hopper by the action of the pusher members "5|, it is desirable that the pipe 5 and the cylinder 2 should perform an axial movement in common with the block 6 before the latter is caused to move relatively to the pipe '5 to eject the pins. For this reason the cylinder 2 is slidably mounted in the walls of the hopper and thepipe 5 is slidably supported in a bracket II. To limit the forward travel of the pipe 5, a collar 1 is secured thereon which in the extreme 'fo'rward position abuts against the bracket Similarly the movement of the pipe 5 in the rearward direction is limited by a collar 1.3, also adapted to abut against the bracket l I. A further eollar 14, secured on the pipe 5, limits the rearward movement of the block "6 in relation to the pipe 5. The block E5 also carries a spring loaded plunger f5 and a rod spring -|5-A which is adapteats engagein one or'the-other of two-spaced recesses or dimples in the pipe 5 whereby the block 6 is releasably coupled with the shaft 5 in each of its two limiting positions.

Figs. 1 and '2 show the position in'which the pusher members 5| have been advanced to the 'limi-t'of the ejecting movement. Here the spring plunger is in engagement with the left-hand recess I8. Consequently, on operating the lever '9, the block 6 and the pipe 5 travel to the right together until the collar 3 encounters the bracle et 1 I; Thereafter, on continued movement of the lever *9, the block '6 slides on the pipe 5 until in the end position it encounters the collar ll and thesp'ring' plunger 1 5 engages theright-h'an'd dimple It. During this 'later'pa-rt'of the motion, the pusher members 51 are retracted from the hopper to enable fr'esh'pins to enter the channels '3. As will be apparent, the movement "of thepin '33 along the slot 8 causes a partial rotaticn of the block 6 and also 'of the pipe "5 "and the cylinder 2. On the forward travel "of the operathig lever 9 the pin 33 -first travels'along "the slott to cause rotation of the cylinder "2 in the reversesense. Thereafter the block ii "in its righthand end position relative to the pipe 5 is constrained to move simultaneously with the pipe 5 :so that the cylinder '2 and the pusher members 51. move simultaneously "to the left. This con tinues until the collar 12 encounters the bracket 11 to arrest the pipe 5 "and the cylinder 2, where- .ai'ter in the continued movement of the block '8; the pusher members 5 :are "advanced in the channels '3 to move the pins into the position in which they projectIrom the ends of the channels 3 .infthe cylinder 2.

The, mechanism ishown also includes an intermediate transfer arrangement whereby the pins fedifrom the hopper with their axes horizontal are transferred to a die of a glass moulding ma- 4 chine in which die the pins have to be inserted with their axes vertical. The transfer device consists of a member secured on a shaft 23 and provided in its end surface with holes 2| adapted to receive the pins. These holes are positioned so as to correspond to the positions of the channels 3 in the cylinder 2 and during the operation of the pusher members 5| the holes 2| are located opposite the ends of the channels 3. To ensure this. location, the transfer member 20 has a recess "22 whiclzi receives a locating projection I9 on the end of the cylinder 2. The transfer member '29 hollow andiis connected by way of its shaft 23 which is likewise hollow to a vacuum line by way of a control valve which will be described more fully with reference to Figs. 5 and 6. By this meansit is achieved that the pusher memhers 5| advance the pins into the holes 2| in the transfer member 20 without the pins finding a seating in the holes. the transfer being completed by the vacuum which causes the pins 50 to seat in the holes 2| and to be released entirely from the cylinder 2. The transfer member 2 0 is then rotated with its shaft 2350 as to swing downward- 'ly and present the pins 50 to the mould 4'0 carried by the mould carriage 39 of the glass mouldi-ng machine.

'In order that there shall be complete synchronism betweenthe operation of the transfer member 29 and the cpera-tion-ofthe mechanism feeding the pins from the hopper I, both mechanisms are *actauted from the same operating lever 9, For this purpose the pin '33 is carried by a crossbar 32 which is rigidly secured to two parallel bars '25 slida-bl-y supported for movement parallel to the axis of the pipe 5. Each of these bars carries a short rack section adapted to engage in a mutilated pinion secured on the shaft 23. Beyond this short rack section, each bar 25-carries a cam member 26- adapted to depress the transfer member 20 so as to insert the pins 59 in themoul-d 4'9. In-the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the bearing blocks '28 and 29- for the shaft 23 are retained in-theirupperm'ost positions by means of springs 31. Inthis position a flat 2 412 011 each of the -mutilated pin-ions 2'4 in en- 'gagementwith a flat portion of the bars 25. In this way the pinions 24 are docked in a predeterm ined position and are held against rotation during initial "movement of the bars 25. Thus, when the operating lever is moved to the right from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the cylinder 2 and the associated pushers -5| are moved to the right. but the simultaneous movementpf thebars 25 does not cause any movement of the transfer member '20. In a predetermined position the rack portion of each of the bars 25 engages the teeth on the associated mutilated pinion 24 and rotates it, thereby swinging-the transfer member 20 from the horizontal position of Fig. 1 into the vertically downward position necessary for-the transfer of the pins to the mould 40. At the end of -this pivotal movement the transfer memberZll is locked by the engagement of a further fiat" 210, on each pinion with the flat portion of the corresponding bar 25 beyondthe rackportiorr. 'Thenin thev further movement of the bars 25 to the right, the inclined ,iaces ofthe cams zdengage corresponding sur- 70,

facesfi. on'the mutilated pinions .24, the action ofth'e' cams: being to depress the bearing blocks 28, ;29. :a'gainstfthe action of. thesprings 3.1. In thi's'waythepinsare inserted into the corresponding holes in. the .mould .411.

"To ensure that the pins are reliably trans.-

ferred from the transfer member 20 to the mould 40, provision is made for applying compressed air to the transfer member when it is in its lowermost position. For this purpose the bearing block 29 is caused in its vertical movement to actuate a valve controlling the application of suction or compressed air to the shaft 23. The bearing blocks 28, 29 slide in vertical guides 30,and one of these guides for the bearing block 29 is constructed as shown in Figs. and 6. Suction is constantly applied to the connecting pipe 4| and compressed air is constantly applied to the connecting pipe 42. Connection of these pipes alternatively to the shaft 23 is determined by a slide valve 44 having a suction inlet 45, compressed air inlet 46 and a control slot 41 which receives a pin 48 on the sliding bearing block 29. In the uppermost position, during which the pins are transferred from the hopper I to the transfer member 20, the pin 48 engages the upper end of the slot 41 and positions the valve 44 as shown in Fig. 5, so that the suction inlet 45 is in alignment with the suction pipe and suction is applied to the shaft 23 by way of the channel 49 in the bearing block 29. During the downward movement of the bearing block 29, the valve 44 originally stays in its uppermost position until the pin 48 encoun' ters the lower end of the slot 41, whereupon the valve 44 is entrained by the block 29 until the lowermost position is reached as shown in Fig, 6. Here the compressed air inlet 46 is positioned over the compressed air pipe and, consequently, compressed air is admitted by way of the channel 49 to the shaft 23. This admission of compressed air continues during the initial stages of the upward movement of the bearing block 29 until the pin 48 encounters the upper end of the valve 44 to restore it to the position shown in Fig. 5. In this way it is ensured that the trans-fer member is sufiiciently retracted from the pins in the mould in its slide so that it remains in any existing setting until it is entrained by the pin 48.

It is apparent for the successful transfer of the pins from the transfer member 28 to the mould 40, the latter must be in correct alignment with the transfer member 20. Consequently it is preferable to provide means for locating the mould carriage 39 relatively to the transfer mechanism. In the construction shown this is achieved by means of a plunger member 38 adapted to be depressed by a lever pivoted at 31 and provided at its free end with a cam slot 36 which is engaged by a rod extending between and secured to the bars 25. Consequently, in the movement of the bars 25, the plungers 38 are depressed and are caused in wellknown manner to effect the location of the carriage 39 by engagement in corresponding locating holes in the carriage. The carriage 39 and mould 40, as indicated in Fig. 1, are of the nature contemplated in co-pending application Ser. No. 562,652 for Glass moulding machine currently filed by me, and the present arrangement is particularly well adapted for inserting pins in the moulds of glass moulding machines as described and illustrated in the complete specification of that application.

I claim:

1. Discharge apparatus for feeding rod-like bodies, comprising a hopper having front and rear walls and an enclosing wall and being adapted to receive said bodies with their axes in parallel relationship substantially perpendicular to said front and rear walls, a cylindrical member provided with peripheral channels arranged parallel to the axis of said member and adapted to receive said rod-like bodies, said cylindrical member being arranged within said hopper with the axis thereof substantially perpendicular to the said front and rear walls and being spaced from the said enclosing wall, means engaging said cylindrical member to move said member about the axis thereof, and means positioned adjacent to said rear wall and movable in the direction of the axis of said cylindrical member for simultaneously ejecting said rod-like bodies from said channels and through the said front wall.

2. Discharge apparatus for feeding rod-like bodies, comprising a hopper having front and rear walls and an enclosing wall and being adapted to receive said bodies with their axes in parallel relationship substantially perpendicular to said front and rear walls, a cylindrical member provided with peripheral channels arranged parallel to the axis of said member and adapted to receive said rod-like bodies, said cylindrical member being arranged within said hopper with the axis thereof substantially perpendicular to the said front and rear walls and being spaced from the said enclosing wall, means engaging one end of said cylindrical member to rotate said member around the axis thereof and to slide said member axially through said front wall to a position with one end thereof outside of said hopper, and means positioned adjacent to said rear wall and movable in the direction of the axis of said cylindrical member for simultaneously ejecting said rod-like bodies from said channels and through the said front wall.

3. Discharge apparatus for feeding rod-like bodies, comprising a hopper having front and rear walls and an enclosing wall and being adapted to receive said bodies with their axes in parallel relationship substantially perpendicular to said front and rear Walls, a cylindrical member provided with peripheral channels arranged parallel to the axis of said member and adapted to receive said rod-like bodies, said cylindrical member being arranged within said hopper with the axis thereof substantially perpendicular to the front and rear walls and being spaced from the said enclosing wall, said cylindrical member being further provided with a central bore and radial bores interconnecting said central bore and said channels, a tubular member engaging one end of said cylindrical member to move said cylindrical member about the axis thereof and having the bore thereof open to the bore of said cylindrical member, means to apply suction to the bore of said cylindrical member through said tubular member, and means positioned adjacent to said rear wall and movable in the direction of the axis of said cylindrical member for simultaneously ejecting said rod-like bodies from said channels and through the said front wall.

4. Discharge apparatus for feeding rod-like bodies, comprising a hopper having front and rear walls and an enclosing wall and being adapted to receive said bodies with their axes in parallel relationship substantially perpendicular to said front and rear walls, a cylindrical member provided with peripheral channels arranged parallel to the axis of said member and adapted to receive said rod-like bodies, said cylindrical member being arranged within said hopper with the axis thereof substantially perpendicular to the front and rear walls and being spaced from the said enclosing sa a-e22 wall 'said cylindrical member being further provided' with a central boreand radial bores interconnecting said" central bore and said channels and positioned- .atthe end of said member adjacent'tosaid front wall; a-tubular member engaging said cylindrical member at'the end thereof adjacent to said rear Wall, means to' apply suction to the bore of said cylindrica'l'member, means'engaging said" tubular member to rotate said cylindrical-memberabouttheaxisthereof and to slide said cylindrical member axially through said front wall to a position thereof with the said first end thereof outsidesaid hopper; and means positioned adjacent to :s'a'idrear wall and movable-in the direction of the-axis of said cylindrical member for simultaneously ejecting said: rod-like bodies from said channels'and through the said front wall.

Discharge apparatus for feedingrod-like bodies, comprising-a hopper havingiront and rear walls a'riclan' enclosing wall and being adapted-to receivesaid' bodiesW-ith their axes in" parallel relationship substantially perpendicular to said front and rear walls; a cylindrical member provided with peripheral channels arranged parallel to theaxisof said member and adapted to receive said rod-like bodies, sai'd' cylindrical' member being' arranged within said. hopper with the axis thereof substantially perpendicular to the said front and rear-walls and-beingspaced fromthe said enclosing-wall, said cylindricalmemberbeing further" provided with a central bore and radial bores interconnecting-said central bore and" said channelsandpositioned at the end of said-memher adjacent to said-front-wall, a tubular member engagingsaid cylindrical member at the end thereof adjacent to said rear wall, means't'o'ap'ply suction'to'the bore and said cylindrical member through said tubular member, a cam member engaging said tubular member to rotate the cylindrical member aboutthe axis thereof and to slide said cylindr'icalmember axially through said front wall to a position thereof with the said first end thereof outside of said hopper, pusher members arranged about-said tubular member and adjacent to said rear Wall, and means couplin'g" said pusher members and said cam member to move said pusher members in thedirection of the axis of said cylindrical member for simultaneously ejecting said rod-like bodies from said channels and through the said front wall.

CHARLES FREDERIC'MARCHANT HAYES;

REFERENCES CITED" vThe following references are of record in the file of this patent? UNITED STATES PATENTS 

